The tongue – part 2

“A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” (Proverbs 15:4 NKJV)

A few weeks ago we looked at some proverbs that warned against too many words – talking too much. Today’s proverbs deal with being careful when we do speak.

Have you ever had someone tell you more than you wanted to know? Perhaps it was true but it had crossed the line into gossip. Or perhaps the person was just sharing knowledge and advice without listening or bothering to care about you as a person. People often say the most foolish things, sometimes when just speaking the truth in the wrong way.

The second proverb also cautions that we make sure we speak with a wholesome tongue without it being perverse. A few years ago I was driving the camp bus down to Milwaukee and I overheard a sweet girl sharing a naughty joke. When I spoke up about it being inappropriate, she hung her head, embarrassed that I had heard. The joke had made her the center of attention among her peers but it did not bring honor to God.

Try to listen to everything that comes out of your mouth today. Are your words such that you would appreciate them if spoken by others? Are they encouraging and uplifting like a tree of life? Are they wholesome or would you be embarrassed if Jesus was in the room? (By the way he is.)